hat's all. And he's clever enough to see
that to please Rob he must be polite to her family. Rob is the stake
he's playing for--till some other pretty girl takes his fancy."

Rosamond shook her head. "You all do him injustice, I believe. Of course
he admires Rob; men always do if they've any discrimination whatever.
But--there are other things that appeal to him. Stephen"--her appealing
face flushed with interest--"when you have a chance, slip out with Mr.
Kendrick and take him upstairs to see Gordon and Dorothy asleep. I just
went up; they look too dear!"

"Why, Rosy, you don't imagine he'd care--"

"Try him--just to please me. I could take him myself, but I'd rather you
would. I want you to look at his face when he looks at them."

"He _has_ got round you--" began her husband, but she made him promise.

When Stephen came upon Richard the guest was with Uncle Rufus and Aunt
Ruth. The young man was entering with great spirit into his conversation
with the pair, and they were evidently enjoying him.

"I'll have to give him credit for possessing genuine courtesy," thought
Stephen.

At this moment a group of young people came up and demanded the presence
of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Gray in another part of the room, and Richard was
set at liberty. Stephen took him by the arm.

"Before you engage again in the antic whirl I have a special exhibit to
show you outside the ballroom. Spare me five minutes?"

"Spare you anything," responded the guest, following Stephen out of
the room as if he wanted nothing so much as to do whatever might be
suggested to him.

In two minutes they were downstairs and at the far end of a long
corridor which led to the rooms in a wing of the big house occupied by
the Stephen Grays. Richard was led through a pleasant living-room where
a maid was reading a book under the drop-light. She rose at their
appearance and Stephen nodded an "All right" to her. He conducted
Richard to the door of an inner room, which, as he opened it, let a rush
of cold air upon the two men entering.

"Turn up your collar; it's winter in here," said Stephen softly. He
switched on a shaded light which revealed a nursery containing two small
beds side by side. Two large windows at the farther end of the room were
wide open, and all the breezes of the December night were playing about
the sleepers.

The sleepers! Richard bent over them, one after the other, scanning each
rosy face. The baby girl lay upon her side, a round